Big John Duncan

{{Short description|Scottish guitarist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Big John Duncan

| image = Big John Duncan.jpg

| caption = Duncan in 2016

| birth_name = John Duncan

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|8|14}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| instrument = Guitar

| genre = Street punk, punk rock

| occupation = Musician

| years_active =

| past_member_of = The Exploited

}}

John Duncan (born August 14, 1958), better known as Big John Duncan, is a Scottish musician who was the guitarist for the punk band The Exploited{{Cite web |title=Big John Duncan est le héros oublié du punk rock |url=https://www.vice.com/fr/article/big-john-duncan-est-le-heros-oublie-du-punk-rock/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Vice.com |date=8 February 2017 |language=fr}} during their classic lineup from 1979 to 1984.Strong, Martin C. (2001) The Great Metal Discography, MOJO Books, {{ISBN|1-84195-185-4}}, p. 189 He played and wrote the music for their albums Punks Not Dead, Troops Of Tomorrow and Let's Start a War. He also played and wrote many of their single releases, the most famous being "Dead Cities" which they performed on Top of the Pops in 1981.

After their American tour in 1983, Duncan quit The Exploited. He then went on to play in several bands including Human Zoo, Crazy Maybe, and Blood Uncles, and then in 1988 joined Goodbye Mr Mackenzie{{Cite web |date=2019-05-13 |title=Exploited guitar legend to rejoin Goodbye Mr Mackenzie for anniversary gigs |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/exploited-guitar-legend-rejoin-goodbye-mr-mackenzie-anniversary-gigs-546914 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Edinburgh News |language=en}} (with future Garbage singer Shirley Manson). In 1992 and 1993 he worked as a backline and guitar technician for the band Nirvana{{Cite web |title=BIG JOHN DUNCAN - interview by Peek-A-Boo magazine |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/big-john-duncan-2019/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be |language=en}} and played guitar with them during their concert in Roseland Ballroom, New York City on 23 July 1993.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nirvanaguide.com/1993.php |title=Nirvana Live Guide - 1993 |access-date=2016-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423225927/http://nirvanaguide.com/1993.php |archive-date=2013-04-23 |url-status=dead }} In the early and mid '90s he played with The Kamikaze Freak Show and the Gin Goblins.

In 2019, he joined with remaining bandmates for a Goodbye Mr Mackenzie 30th anniversary reunion tour.

Duncan worked with many other bands during his career including Twisted Sister, the Foo Fighters and Ministry.